yep, ours is like bloody houdini and fast especially if he sees something he wants. doesnt matter how happy they are, or how much they love you their home. they see a rabbit or something, thats it. gone.

the other day I pulled mine in when he started barking at something in the garden (christ knows what it was) as I was closing the door he ran past me and the only reason I caught him was that he caught it at the bottom of the gerden. he let it go when I shouted, but still....

<fond memories of obedient collie who I could let off lead quite happily and stupid docile lab>

I've clearly missed out... I've found mutts, Labradors, Collies, a couple of Rotts but never a Jackie.

One of the Rotts was good fun. I called the Dog Warden out to scan her for a chip. He duly arrived and as I led him to the kitchen where she'd been eating biscuits from my hand he asked me "Is she friendly?"

"Yep... well, she is to me at least. I hope she likes men!"

Whoops. At that he opened the door and she flew at him, hackles raised, teeth bared! How was I to know my wisecrack might have more than a ring of truth to it?

The Dog Warden, a big, burly chap, slammed the door shut PDQ, handed me a slip lead and said, "Can you get her into the van then?".

She walked out by my side and hopped into the van with all the gentleness and manners of a PAT dog. The DW sat in the drivers seat, doors and windows firmly closed.

A few days later, chatting to my local greengrocer, I mentioned finding this Rott. "Oh, so it was YOU! She's my dog. Thank you!" she replied. A visitor had left the door open and Rott-Girl had escaped, leaving the owner frantic. Luckily the microchip had reunited them.

I smiled and told her owner of the difference between Rott-Girl's reaction to me and the dog warden. She snorted. "My dog hates men. I trained her to be like that in case my bastard ex husband comes back!".

actually, i told a lie. i have found some labradoodles as well (not mine). the dog warden is doing extra patrols which seems to have kicked the owners into getting their fences fixed pretty darned quick!